You Only Live Nine Lives - Double 0 Quills Spy Story for Kids

Jack A. Lope and Double 0 Quills race across the stars to uncover the mysterious disappearance of the science vessel Biblio 5 and its crew. Their mission leads them through floating space junk, cosmic dust bunnies, and a gerbil triple threat until they land right in the clutches of the evil cat captain of the Star Scratcher. With the fate of Once Upon a Time hanging by a thread, the spies must outsmart this clever feline before his purr-fectly twisted plan turns it into a hopeless tangle.

EPISODE: https://jonincharacter.com/you-only-live-nine-lives/

I SPY GAME CHALLENGE: https://jonincharacter.com/double-0-quills-spy-adventures/

• Download the I SPY game card: https://bit.ly/dorktalesISPYgamecard 

GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep134freePDF 

PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: As Jack, Redge, and Kit work together to rescue a missing research ship, listeners learn how believing in one another helps overcome fear, solve unexpected problems, and accomplish goals that would be impossible alone. This story encourages listeners to recognize their own strengths while appreciating the unique talents others bring to a team. There’s a subtle, but important, underlying message that confidence can be borrowed from people who believe in us until we're able to believe in ourselves.

MORE DOUBLE 0 QUILLS SPY ADVENTURES: 

• EP96 Operation Golden Tie - https://jonincharacter.com/operation-golden-tie/
• EP107 Mysterious Mr. Yes - https://jonincharacter.com/mysterious-mr-yes/

CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written, directed and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

Try the Double 0 Quills I SPY game challenge on our Dorktales fan page: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/

Transcript

Jonathan 0:29

Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to Dork Tales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups. And this is one of our anything is possible lore stories.

Theme Song 0:43

It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us regale

New Spy Mission

Theme Song 0:56

you.

Kit 1:03

Alright, boys, I've done my final tests on Dramatis. Ah, such a beautiful ship. Some of my finest work.

Jack A. Lope 1:14

Are we ready to go, Kit?

Kit 1:16

Oh yeah. Well, no. It's time to do our pre-flight checks.

Redge 1:20

Ooh, exciting!

Jack A. Lope 1:22

Indeed.

Kit 1:23

Launch codes?

Redge 1:24

Double O quills here. Relaying launch code Alpha Beta Z double O Gamma Gamma Blue Balloon Green Kazoo Ice Cream Cone Cotton Balls.

Kit 1:36

Affirmative Quills.

Jack A. Lope 1:37

This is Jack A. Lope. I've pulled up the WV.

Redge 1:41

Ah yes, the Weather Vane. Storm Predictor Technology.

Kit 1:46

Crafted by the one and only Kit. That's me.

Jack A. Lope 1:50

That's right, Kit. I'm looking at the readouts, and it appears as though it's going to be all sunshine, no rain during our launch window.

Redge 1:58

Oh, how can you tell? I've never seen the WV in action.

Jack A. Lope 2:03

Uh there's a little sun with a smiley face right there in the center.

Redge 2:06

Aw, how cute!

Jack A. Lope 2:09

What's next?

Redge 2:10

Airlock. Secured. Navigational systems. Online. And seat belts buckled. Safety first.

Kit 2:25

That's excellent news. That means you're clear to initiate thrusters.

Jack A. Lope 2:29

Initiating thrusters? Thrusters initiated.

Kit 2:33

Remember, your spacesuits have heat resistant technology, personal air conditioners, built-in screens in the helmet with access to 100 original movies.

Redge 2:43

Ooh.

Kit 2:44

And important maps and stuff. Also, there are walkie-talkie capabilities, utility belts with all of your practical breaking into an enemy spaceship needs, bubble machines, and cup holders.

Jack A. Lope 2:56

Cup holders?

Redge 2:59

You always remember to add cupholders to our gear kit.

Kit 3:02

Gotta stay hydrated! All right, we've reached the launch window. Time for my favorite part. Ten, nine, eight.

Redge 3:12

Are you ready, Jack?

Kit 3:14

Seven, six.

Jack A. Lope 3:16

Ready as I'll ever be, Quills.

Kit 3:18

Five, four.

Redge 3:20

Let our next mission commence.

Kit 3:23

Three, two, one.

All 3:26

Lift off.

Kit 3:32

How's it looking out there in space, fellas?

Redge 3:34

Wow! So many stars and all the land of Once Upon A Time beneath us.

Jack A. Lope 3:41

It is beautiful. But no time to enjoy it now.

Redge 3:45

You're right. Focus on the mission.

Jack A. Lope 3:48

Kit, will you run down our objectives one more time?

Kit 3:52

You got it, Jack. Approximately twelve hours ago, the Biblio 5 spacecraft disappeared from orbit.

Jonathan 3:59

But the crew on that ship is studying important scientific and magically terrific things, like how to grow plants in outer space, and the weather patterns of Once Upon a Time, and the mystical interaction between stars and wishes and Pixie Dust.

Kit 4:15

That's right, Quills. Very important work for magic users and science doers.

Redge 4:21

We have to find them. Do we have any leads or clues? Did Biblio 5 leave anything behind?

Jack A. Lope 4:28

Nothing at all.

Redge 4:29

Oh no!

Jack A. Lope 4:31

Except for one thing.

Redge 4:33

Oh yay!

Jack A. Lope 4:34

Kit caught a strange frequency on her patented listen-in radio.

Kit 4:38

I did. We received satellite images of empty space where the ship was last seen orbiting our planet. So I decided to connect my radio to the nearest satellite, and I built two really big antennas. It was really interesting, actually. I

Redge 4:53

um the the the frequency?

Kit 4:55

Oh right. Uh well, it was a strange one, just like Jack said.

Jack A. Lope 4:59

Can you patch it through so quills can take a listen?

Kit 5:02

Sure thing.

Redge 5:03

Thank you, kit. Well, that's odd. It sounds just like a p cat. But that couldn't be, right?

Kit 5:19

Well, it definitely doesn't sound like a duck. Or a cow. Or a dog, or a pig.

Jack A. Lope 5:25

Looks like we're nearing the start of our trail.

Redge 5:28

Trail?

Kit 5:29

I studied the waveforms made by the radio frequency and determined which direction they were traveling. From there it was a simple hack of your ship's entire complex navigational system to chart a course. No biggie!

Jonathan 5:42

Kit, you never cease to amaze me.

Kit 5:44

Hey, thanks.

Jack A. Lope 5:50

Huh? That's odd.

Redge 5:52

What

Cosmic Dust Bunnies

Redge 5:53

is it?

Dramatis 5:54

Unidentified objects ahead. Please initiate course correction procedures.

Jack A. Lope 5:59

But what is it? Meteors?

Redge 6:01

Hmm, no, not quite. That over there looks like a giant hamburger bun?

Jack A. Lope 6:10

And hot dog buns?

Redge 6:12

Big crumpled up pieces of paper. Oh, and there are some massive cosmic banana peels.

Jack A. Lope 6:21

Dramatis. Identify the object just off the port bow.

Dramatis 6:26

Scanning. Object identified. Floating space debris. Classification D. Cosminicus Maniculus Articulatus. Or more commonly known as cosmic dust bunnies. Patching through a message from Bunniculus Particulatus now.

Dust Bunny 6:46

Hehe look out! We might make you sneeze!

Redge 6:50

The dust bunnies speak?

Jack A. Lope 6:52

My nose suddenly tickles.

Kit 6:56

Uh guys, alert. I'm picking up on a rare phenomenon obstructing your path. It's space dumpster debris.

Jack A. Lope 7:04

We uh we uh we uh noticed.

Kit 7:10

Quick, initiate cool tricks.

Jack A. Lope 7:13

Oh right. We should be able to set in the last of these coordinates and turn on the autopilot function to fly through this uh debris.

Redge 7:23

Ah yes, cool tricks protocol! Now Dramatis will start bobbing and weaving in a spectacular fashion.

Jack A. Lope 7:31

All set. Initiating sequence now.

Dramatis 7:35

Autopilot offline.

Jack A. Lope 7:37

Oh no.

Redge 7:38

What? Why didn't it work?

Jack A. Lope 7:41

Because I sneezed on the console. It fried the screen.

Redge 7:46

It what?

Jack A. Lope 7:47

We'll have to fly Dramatis ourselves.

Redge 7:49

Ourselves?

Jack A. Lope 7:51

I'll program the Cool Tricks maneuver into your helmet. You should see paths light up on a digital map that plays on the built-in screen. Just follow them as you fly.

Redge 8:02

Fly? Me?

Jack A. Lope 8:04

You have to fly so I can enter the cool tricks manually.

Redge 8:07

Listen, Lope, I'm a hedgehog, not a pilot.

Jack A. Lope 8:10

Quills, you are a top secret agent and spy master. You can do it. Or my name isn't Lope. Jack A. Lope.

Redge 8:20

You're right. I believe!

Dramatis 8:24

Cool Trick Sequence, the butterfly.

Redge 8:31

Think like a butterfly and gracefully fly past this enormous boot. I can do it. It couldn't be easier.

Jack A. Lope 8:37

Watch out for the shoelaces!

Dramatis 8:40

Cool trick sequence, kangaroo bounce.

Jack A. Lope 8:44

And we're just going to hop right across these old tin cans.

Redge 8:48

Boing, boing, boing, and bingo! We've cleared the cans!

Dramatis 8:54

Cool trick sequence. Fly super fast to avoid object collision.

Redge 8:58

Oh, doesn't it have a cooler name?

Dramatis 9:00

Um, right. Cool trick sequence. Zoom now.

Jack A. Lope 9:04

Hit the gas, Quills. The dust bunnies are the charg Charging. They're charging the ship.

Redge 9:15

Pedal to the metal!

Jack A. Lope 9:23

Excellent work, Quills.

Redge 9:25

Oh, thank you. I uh I knew I could do it the whole time.

The Star Scratcher

Redge 9:30

Of course. Look, Jack! There's a ship just ahead. But it doesn't look like the missing Biblio 5.

Jack A. Lope 9:39

It appears to be the Star Scratcher.

Redge 9:44

Fascinating.

Jack A. Lope 9:46

And this field of space dumpster debris was purposefully scattered on our path to knock us off course. But we've discovered the Star Scratcher anyways.

Redge 9:57

I think it's about time we sneakily get on board and find out what's going on.

Jack A. Lope 10:02

I couldn't agree more. Who goes there?

Redge 10:10

Look on the screen!

Jack A. Lope 10:12

Cat eyes.

Ernst 10:14

Very wise you two very wise indeed. I say you made it past my debris.

Redge 10:24

How did you scatter the contents of a dumpster in space? Oh, and uh who are you?

Ernst 10:30

The scientists on Biblio five were studying the usefulness of repurposing trash for fuel. I just made a few modifications to the experiment.

Redge 10:43

Well, we're going to clean up after you whoever you are.

Ernst 10:48

Sure, go ahead. I'm not worried about that.

Jack A. Lope 10:51

Where is Biblio five?

Ernst 10:54

I could tell you. Or you could have a little chat with my laser pointer!

Redge 11:05

Dramatis, cut the feed and initiate stealth mode.

Dramatis 11:09

Initiating stealth mode.

Jack A. Lope 11:11

Excellent quick thinking, Quills. Now they won't be able to target Dramatis. But we have to get to the Star Scratcher, and these lasers are making it impossible to move closer.

Redge 11:22

We'll just have to use the suits.

Jack A. Lope 11:24

Go out into space?

Redge 11:27

Jack, you're a top secret agent and super spy master. You can do it, or my name is in double O Quills.

Jack A. Lope 11:35

I see what you did there.

Redge 11:38

Kit, we need a boost to get to the enemy ship.

Kit 11:41

Oh! Did I forget to mention that you have rocket boots on?

Redge 11:44

How convenient!

Jack A. Lope 11:46

Step inside the airlock, Quills.

Kit 11:51

The rocket boots are ready to rumble. Dramatis, open hatch.

Dramatis 11:56

Hatch opening.

Redge 11:57

Whee! Exhilarating! Rocket boots rocketing us through space! Jack, I can't believe the last laser almost singed the side of your suit! But you expertly zoomed out of the way!

Jack A. Lope 12:17

Yeah, it was uh not a close call at all. Completely normal and fine.

Ernst 12:26

How did you get in here?

Redge 12:29

Hey, how can you see us?

Ernst 12:32

My cat eyes never miss a thing.

Jack A. Lope 12:36

As for the how, we would never reveal our tricks.

Redge 12:40

Now show yourself.

The Triple Threats

Redge 12:42 Ernst 12:43

Oh poo! You absolutely know. Well, I do wish we could chit-chat in person, but I'm a busy cat. Do say hello to my friends for me before you get off, will you?

Gerbil 1 12:59

Yo!

Gerbil 2 13:00

Up here,

Gerbil 3 13:02

and over here!

All 13:03

Sneak Attack!

Jack A. Lope 13:06

The Triple Threats! I thought that was just a legend. Double O quills, run!

Gerbil 1 13:11

Backflip! Backflip!

Gerbil 2 13:13

Somersault!

Gerbil 3 13:14

Leap!

Redge 13:15

You know who they are?

Jack A. Lope 13:17

They're gerbil triplets with talent that they're not afraid to use. They will hypnotize you with their skills, perform a monologue you want to hear over and over again. Spin until you're dizzy, slow you down with their incredible tumbling passes.

Gerbil 1 13:33

Flying splits!

Jack A. Lope 13:35

Duck!

Redge 13:36

Ah!

Jack A. Lope 13:37

You see?

Redge 13:38

It is rather impressive.

Gerbil 1 13:40

Yeah, Quills. Check out these

All 13:43

jazz hands!

Redge 13:46

Jack? I feel compelled to stop! And also do jazz hands!

Jack A. Lope 13:56

No quills! Wait, what do we have on these belts of ours? Uh lockpick, multi-tool, codebreaker, yo-yo, wait, yo-yo!

Redge 14:06

Jack! I must jazz hands!

Jack A. Lope 14:11

A flashlight. Use your flashlight, Quills. Shine it on them like a spotlight. The Triple Threats cannot resist the spotlight.

Redge 14:19

Just have to resist to grab the flashlight and let it shine.

Jonathan 14:29

Look, Quills, it's working. They've begun a production of Quilliam Shakespeare's play about the pig.

Redge 14:35

Hamley!

Gerbil 1 14:38

To Oink

Gerbil 2 14:40

Or not to Oink.

Gerbil 3 14:42

That is the question.

Jack A. Lope 14:44

Leave the flashlight on the ground shining at them. They'll be distracted for a while. They started at the beginning of Act Two.

Redge 14:52

Aww, do we have to go? They're really good.

Jack A. Lope 14:56

Quills, the cat.

Redge 14:58

Oh right, running.

The Yarn Dimension

Redge 15:00 Ernst 15:04

Soon my plans will all manifest. Nothing can stop me now. I have all the best scientists in a land of once upon a time here in my claws. According to my meowculations, there is only one final equation to complete before the scientists confirm the lost coordinate. Then all we have to do is take the Star Scratcher there to scratch open space-time, engage thrusters at Zoomies speed, and fly through the portal to the Yarn Dimension.

Redge 15:53

Not so fast.

Ernst 15:55

What? No! How did you resist the jazz hand attack?

Redge 16:00

Using our top-of-the-line spy gadgets from the brilliant agent kit.

Kit 16:05

Oh hey, thanks. Oh, by the way, Lope and Quills, I've been doing a little digging on the Star Scratcher. Patching my findings through the data pads I sewed into your suit sleeves.

Redge 16:15

You really think of everything.

Jack A. Lope 16:21

Ah

Redge 16:22

I see.

Ernst 16:24

What? What do you see? Two eyes on this massive screen? The eyes of a fearsome foe who was trying to finish his evil monologue about his brilliant plan to take over Once Upon A Time and cover it in delightful yarn?

Redge 16:40

So the name's Ernst, is it?

Ernst 16:43

Er no?

Redge 16:46

Kit is never wrong.

Jack A. Lope 16:48

You cannot open the Yarn Dimension, Ernst.

Redge 16:51

According to Kit's research, you will unleash yarn balls of epic proportions across our land.

Jack A. Lope 16:58

Once Upon A Time we'll become so crisscrossed that not even our best scientists will be able to untangle the threads.

Ernst 17:05

I don't care. Star Scratcher, set speed to Zoomies. Engage.

Jack A. Lope 17:12

Whoa!

Redge 17:13

Yeah

Jack A. Lope 17:14

We're going at super speed. Ernst is going to get to the portal of the Yarn Dimension in mere moments.

Redge 17:21

But he still doesn't have the lost coordinate. There's time to draw him out.

Ernst 17:28

Soon all the world will be covered in yarn to bat around with our

The Yo-Yo Trick

Ernst 17:34

paws.

Redge 17:35

Jack, how will we get Ernst to reveal himself? There must be a way.

Jack A. Lope 17:40

Wait a second. Quills, look at your utility belt. See anything that might be appealing?

Redge 17:48

Brilliant, Jack!

Kit 17:50

Ah, I'm picking up what you're putting down, boys, and giving them a little boost so they emit an extra dazzling light.

Redge 17:58

We can always count on you, Kit.

Jack A. Lope 18:00

On the count of three.

Redge 18:03

One,

Jack A. Lope 18:04

two

Kit 18:05

Oh, I love countdowns.

Redge 18:07

Uh Kit?

Kit 18:09

Oh right. Three.

All 18:11

Yo yo yo's engage!

Ernst 18:17

What? No, no, you can't do this

Jack A. Lope 18:20

But look at these beautiful lights.

Ernst 18:23

I won't. Eyes on the prize, Ernst. Just think of the Yarn Dimension.

Redge 18:29

Look at this most delightful string.

Ernst 18:32

Must resist the urge to bat at the string

Jack A. Lope 18:38

Watch these nifty yo yo tricks, Ernst. The sleeper.

Redge 18:42

The gravity pull.

Jack A. Lope 18:43

Cold fusion.

Redge 18:45

Walking the dog.

Ernst 18:47

No not the dog I must defeat the yo yo

Jack A. Lope 18:56

The screen went black.

Redge 18:57

The ship is slowing down.

Ernst 18:59

Meow

Redge 19:01

Look, Jack, Ernst.

Jack A. Lope 19:03

He's coming out from hiding and is batting the string.

Ernst 19:08

String

Jack A. Lope 19:10

It looks like we've unraveled your plans, Ernst.

Ernst 19:15

Wait, what? No, no! You tricked me!

Redge 19:19

When Double 0 Quills

Jack A. Lope 19:21

and Lope, Jack A Lope

Redge 19:24

are on the case, you can count on mission success.

Ernst 19:28

I will reach the Yarn Dimension someday, Lope and Quills. You can't stop me for long.

Jack A. Lope 19:34

Let me just do a little rabbit on the trapeze trick, Will Quick.

Ernst 19:39

Oh, string.

Redge 19:42

That should keep him busy.

Kit 19:44

Great work, guys! I've been able to hack into the Star Scratcher computer. Looks like Ernst was cloaking the Biblio 5 using space dumpster debris not far from your current location.

Redge 19:54

Ah, I see. So he captured the ship in what looks like a yawn net.

Kit 20:00

Excellent gadget construction, I have to say.

Ernst 20:02

Huh, thank you. Wow. String!

Redge 20:07

And he was using the expertise and resources of the Biblio 5 to open the Yarn Dimension Portal.

Kit 20:14

And you two arrived just in time, because they were one digit away. You've been cleared to return to Dramatis and tow the Biblio 5 back into orbit around Once Upon A Time. I juiced up the ships to help you make the trip home.

Jack A. Lope 20:27

But before we head home, maybe

Redge 20:31

we can give the rocket boots another spin?

Jack A. Lope 20:35

You read my mind, Agent Quills.

Kit 20:38

Alright. Sounds like the perfect opportunity for another countdown.

Redge 20:41

Prepare for rocket boot launch.

Jack A. Lope 20:44

See you in the stars, Quills.

Credits, How to Reach Us

Jack A. Lope 20:47 Jonathan 21:01

This story was written by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Sound Studios. Reach out to us on Instagram or email us at DorkTalestorytime at gmail.com. Find links in the show notes or go to dorktalesstorytime.com. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you next once upon a time.